[NFB-Science] Introduction from Your New Vice President

[Ty Littlefield]

Dave,

This was unfortunately my thought. I know you can use reflow ovens, but 
then the question is component orientation and placement. I might just 
call it a day and pay the extra for the modules I want. Mostly it was 
just an interest, I love doing things myself to learn how they work.

Thanks,


On 8/18/2026 5:02 PM, dandrews920 at comcast.net wrote:
> I am not an expert in soldering -- let me say. I have tried once.
>
> I do supervise some electronics technicians and have talked about surface mount technologies, and even bought some equipment so they could try.
>
> While I can not say that a blind person couldn't do it, from what I know of the techniques, it would be very difficult to impossible. Stuff is very tight, and on both sides of a circuit board, so heat has to be used judiciously and at the right place.
>
> Dave
>
> p.s. Where is Tim Cranmer when we need him!\
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFB-Science<nfb-science-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Brian Buhrow via NFB-Science
> Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2026 1:30 PM
> To: NFB Science and Engineering Division List<nfb-science at nfbnet.org>; Ty Littlefield<tyler at tysdomain.com>
> Cc: Brian Buhrow<buhrow at nfbcal.org>
> Subject: Re: [NFB-Science] Introduction from Your New Vice President
>
> 	Hello Ty.  The through-hole and wire splicing soldering is pretty easy to do nonvisually and I'd be happy to talk you through the learning process if you're interested.  I'm not familiar with soldering paste.  I always thought surface mount components had to be mounted with some kind of commercial jig.  If that's not the case, I'd be interested in hearing more about what you're working with and maybe there would be a way to learn to do that nonvisually as well.
>
> -thanks
> -Brian
>
-- 

*Ty Littlefield (he/him/his)*

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